Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Minion

A '''minion''' is a servile dependent, follower, or underling of a powerful figure. The term originates from and has been used historically to denote a favorite or subordinate. In modern usage, "minion" appears in various contexts, including language and , geographical locations, personal names, arts and entertainment (such as the fictional Minions characters from Illumination's '''' franchise), science and technology, and other miscellaneous uses.

Language and general use

Etymology

The word "minion" entered the English language around 1500 as a borrowing from Middle French , which denoted a "favorite," "darling," or "lover," often in the context of courtly affection or favoritism. This French term itself derived from Old French , meaning "dainty," "pleasing," or "gentle," possibly tracing further to a Frankish root related to love or affection. In its earliest English usages, "minion" retained a neutral or positive connotation, referring to a cherished or select within a . By the mid-16th century, the word's meaning began to shift toward a more derogatory sense, implying a servile follower, sycophant, or underling who gained influence through flattery, particularly amid the political machinations of the court. This evolution was influenced by the rivalries surrounding King Henry VIII's intimate circle of young courtiers, known as his "minions," who served in the and wielded significant but precarious power, often drawing criticism from excluded nobles. The tone solidified in the 17th century, associating "minion" with and low status in hierarchical settings.

Definition and usage

In contemporary English, the primary meaning of "minion" refers to a servile dependent, follower, or underling who obeys orders from a superior, often with connotations of low status and unquestioning loyalty. This usage emphasizes subservience, as seen in dictionary examples where a minion performs menial tasks for a higher authority, such as delivering tea while awaiting a meeting. The term implies a hierarchical relationship where the minion lacks independent agency, frequently carrying a pejorative tone of sycophancy or blind obedience. A secondary, more sense of "" denotes a favorite or , particularly in the context of a or noble's affections, derived from its original root meaning something pleasing or dainty. This positive connotation has largely faded in modern usage, though it persists in historical or literary references to favored companions. In plural form, "minions" can broadly describe small or insignificant creatures within a larger system, but this remains tied to the core idea of subordination in hierarchical structures. The word appears in various non-specialized contexts, such as , where it describes loyal but lowly supporters of a , for instance, "minions of the regime" used to authoritarian followers enforcing policies. In settings, it denotes underlings who handle routine or unpleasant duties, like corporate executives delegating firings to their s. Everyday speech employs it humorously or commandingly, as in phrases like "Do my bidding, minion!" to assert mock authority over subordinates. In 20th- and 21st-century , "minion" has solidified its evolution from an originally neutral or affectionate term to one denoting lackeys or insignificant aides, reflecting broader cultural shifts toward viewing blind with disdain. This development, accelerating in the mid-20th century, underscores the word's application to any context of power imbalance without implying favor, as evidenced by its frequent use in critiques of institutional hierarchies.

Places

Settlements

Minions is a small village in , , situated on the southeastern edge of at an elevation of approximately 300 meters above sea level, making it the highest village in the county. The name Minions, first recorded in 1613, derives from the word "Menyon," meaning "stones," reflecting the area's landscape and prehistoric stone formations. As part of Linkinhorne parish, the village has a population of around 280 residents based on 2021 data for its primary postcode area, though the broader parish encompasses about 1,570 people. The village's historical development is closely tied to Cornwall's Industrial Revolution-era mining boom in the , when it emerged as a settlement to support tin and on the moor. Prior to 1800, the area featured only scattered farmhouses, but rapid growth occurred between 1863 and 1880 to accommodate workers for nearby operations, including the Phoenix United Mine, which began as a venture in 1836 and shifted to tin production in the before closing in 1914. This mine, one of the largest in eastern , produced over 16,000 tons of tin and 83,000 tons of , contributing to the region's status as a global hub and leaving behind iconic engine houses that now form part of the Cornwall and Mining Landscape . Today, Minions' economy relies on drawn to its and , alongside small-scale agriculture on the surrounding . Visitors explore preserved and the village's role in Cornwall's past, supported by local initiatives like the Minions Centre. The village holds cultural significance through its integration with Bodmin Moor's ancient folklore and recreational trails, particularly those leading to the , a dramatic tor formation nearby. Local legends describe the Cheesewring as the remnants of a contest between a giant and a , where the giant stacked stones to impress or challenge, symbolizing the moor's mystical dating back to times. These narratives, combined with walking paths that connect Minions to prehistoric sites like the Hurlers stone circles, enhance the area's appeal as a destination for cultural and outdoor .

Other locations

In Greece, the term "Minion" has been associated with several commercial establishments, reflecting local adaptations unrelated to the mining origins. A notable example is the Super Market , a located in Archangelos on the island of , serving as a key local shopping venue for groceries and daily essentials near the town's . Another prominent site is the historic Minion department store in central , originally founded in 1944 on Patision Avenue (now 28is Octovriou Street) by Ioannis Georgakas as Greece's first modern . It pioneered innovations such as annual discounts, escalators, , and computer systems, attracting millions of visitors annually and becoming a cultural landmark. The store closed in 1998 due to financial challenges following a 1980 fire and reconstruction, but the building reopened in April 2025 as a commercial center hosting a flagship store on approximately 6,000 square meters.

People

As a surname

Minion is a rare with origins in both and contexts. In , particularly from , it functions as a variant of Moynihan, an Anglicized form of the Ó Muimhneacháin, denoting a descendant of a person associated with the ancient territory of . In , Minion derives from an occupational name for a miner, formed as a of minier, the term for a mine worker or digger. This root is uncommon in its native country today and may have been altered in from similar-sounding names like . Globally, the surname remains infrequent, with the highest prevalence , where approximately 622 individuals bore it as of recent demographic estimates. It also appears notably in (approximately 162 bearers as of 2023) and the (approximately 222 as of 2023), reflecting patterns of 19th- and 20th-century migration. In the , roughly 71% of those with the identify with White ethnic groups, based on census-linked genetic ancestry data. Historical records for first emerge in the mid-19th century, often tied to immigration and settlement patterns. Early mentions appear in , , and Canadian immigration logs from the 1850s onward, coinciding with waves of and emigration. By 1880, the name was recorded in censuses, with families concentrated in eastern states. In Canada, FamilySearch and census data highlight a notable cluster in Ontario during the 1911 enumeration, where 14 Minion families resided, accounting for about 93% of all recorded Minions in the country at that time.

Notable individuals

The surname Minion is relatively rare, resulting in few widely recognized notable individuals bearing it. Frank Minion (born January 3, 1929) was an American jazz and bop singer active in the 1950s, known for his performances in New York clubs such as Birdland and recordings with groups like the Lou Bennett Quartet. He released several albums, including covers of standards like "How High the Moon" and "Sweet Lorraine," blending jazz with rhythm and blues influences before largely fading from the public scene. Frederick "Fred" Minion was an English professional footballer who played as a wing-half in the early 1900s, making two appearances in the Football League for while also featuring for clubs including , , and ; he died of wounds in during in 1917. Although not sharing the surname, the Indonesian badminton duo and earned the nickname "The Minions" for their compact stature, exceptional speed, and agility on the court, dominating men's doubles with numerous international titles, including gold medals at the in 2018 and 2022, from 2016 until their retirement in 2024.

Arts, entertainment, and media

Fictional characters

The Minions are a species of small, yellow, capsule-shaped creatures introduced in the 2010 animated film , created by directors and in collaboration with character designer Eric Guillon. They originated as single-celled organisms that evolved over millennia to serve history's most despicable masters, depicted as an all-male group driven by an innate loyalty to evil bosses. The Minions communicate in a fragmented known as Minionese, blending elements of various human tongues with gibberish, and exhibit chaotic, childlike enthusiasm in their henchman roles, particularly under the supervision of the supervillain . Among the Minions, several stand out as recurring personalities with distinct traits: Kevin, the tall, three-eyed leader often taking charge during escapades; Stuart, the one-eyed, mischievous troublemaker with a penchant for mischief; and Bob, the short, two-eyed innocent who carries a teddy bear and relies on his companions for guidance. These characters embody the group's collective clumsiness and unwavering devotion, contributing to their iconic status as comic relief sidekicks. In the 2010 animated film , Minion is portrayed as a fish-like alien sidekick and lifelong companion to the protagonist Megamind, voiced by . Residing in a mechanical suit resembling a or , Minion provides comic support and loyalty, originating from the same doomed homeworld as Megamind in the Glaupunk Quadrant, where he served as a before escaping to . His witty, overdramatic personality contrasts with his role as a dependable , emphasizing themes of amid villainy. The 1998 supernatural horror film features the titular as a demonic spirit serving the , capable of possessing human hosts to hunt for a mystical key that would unleash apocalyptic evil. This ancient entity, tied to Templar lore, transfers between bodies with ruthless efficiency, embodying pure malevolence without a fixed physical form beyond its temporary vessels. Beyond these prominent examples, the name "Minion" occasionally appears in minor roles across and as generic subservient henchmen to antagonists, often without individualized backstories, reflecting the term's broader connotation of lowly followers in fantastical narratives.

Films

The Minions were introduced in the franchise as Gru's diminutive, yellow-skinned henchmen, providing through their chaotic antics and loyalty to their boss. In (2010), directed by and , the Minions assist Gru in his villainous schemes, such as stealing the , while showcasing their playful incompetence that endears them to audiences. The sequel, (2013), also directed by Renaud and Coffin, expands their role as they help Gru transition from to family man, including subplots involving their mishaps during missions for the Anti-Villain League. (2017), co-directed by Coffin, Kyle Balda, and Eric Guillon, features the Minions in comedic sequences like a disastrous talent show performance, further emphasizing their role as the film's humorous backbone. The most recent installment, (2024), directed by and Patrick Delage, introduces new family dynamics with the birth of Gru Jr. and the family's relocation to , alongside Minion subplots where select Minions are transformed into superpowered "Mega Minions" through an experimental serum, blending action and humor. The franchise spawned two spin-off films centered on the Minions' origins and adventures. Minions (2015), directed by and Kyle Balda, explores the creatures' history from prehistoric times to the 1960s, following three Minions—, Stuart, and —as they seek a new master and encounter supervillain Scarlet Overkill; the film grossed $1.159 billion worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. Produced by Illumination Entertainment, it employs a vibrant (CGI) style with exaggerated expressions and dynamic camera work to highlight the Minions' . The follow-up prequel, Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), directed by Coffin and Brad Ableson, is set in the and depicts young Gru's recruitment of the Minions into his villain amid a battle against a rival crime syndicate; it earned $940 million globally despite pandemic-era challenges. provides the signature gibberish voices for the Minions across all films, blending invented with pop culture references for universal appeal. Beyond the Illumination series, other films titled or featuring "Minion" exist outside the franchise. (1998), a directed by Jean-Marc Piché, stars as a battling an ancient demonic entity known as the Minion that possesses human hosts in a modern-day scenario. Announced in July 2024 following the success of , is slated for release on July 1, 2026, directed by , continuing the spin-off's exploration of the characters' mischievous exploits. Critical reception for the Minions-focused films has varied, with praise for their visual humor and box-office dominance but criticism for formulaic storytelling in later entries. For instance, holds a 55% approval rating on , reflecting divided opinions on its overcrowded plot despite strong family-oriented charm. Illumination's consistent animation approach—characterized by bright color palettes, fluid motion, and Minion-centric gags—has solidified the series' commercial success, amassing over $5 billion globally across the franchise as of 2024.

Video games

In , the term "" commonly denotes AI-controlled or player-summoned units that support objectives, such as advancing , battling enemies, or providing strategic advantages through automated behaviors. These elements are integral to mechanics in various genres, from multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) to action role-playing games (RPGs) and endless runners, influencing tactics like resource management and combat positioning. In (2009), are AI-controlled units that spawn periodically from the player's every 30 seconds in waves, consisting of three minions, three minions, and one siege minion every few waves, advancing along to attack enemy structures and the opposing . These units provide and experience points when last-hit by players, central to farming strategies, while their wave management—such as pushing to overwhelm turrets or freezing to control lane position—shapes team-based tactics and map control. Super minions, more durable variants, replace standard waves after an is destroyed, escalating pressure on . Minion Masters (2019), developed by BetaDwarf, is a game where players select a Minion Master hero and build decks of cards to summon minions and spells in fast-paced multiplayer battles, supporting 1v1 or 2v2 modes. Minions automatically engage opponents upon deployment, with no direct required, emphasizing deck-building combos and bridge-capturing for strategic edges in arena-style duels. The game's hybrid card-tower defense mechanics allow players to level up their Minion Master mid-match for evolving abilities, fostering competitive online play. Despicable Me: Minion Rush (2013), a mobile endless runner developed by Gameloft, features the yellow Minions from the film franchise as protagonists, who dash through levels collecting bananas while avoiding obstacles in missions across themed locations. Core gameplay includes power-ups for speed boosts and gadgets, alongside tournaments and customizable costumes unlocked via progression. A major update on May 20, 2025, introduced Unity engine enhancements, overhauled visuals, new endless run modes, and content tied to Despicable Me 4, including fresh challenges and profile systems. In other titles, minions appear as summonable allies with distinct AI. In Terraria (2011), players use minion-summoning weapons, such as the Pygmy Staff or Stardust Dragon Staff, to call forth automated companions that follow the player and attack nearby enemies via contact or projectiles, with a maximum cap of 11 active minions achievable through armor sets, accessories like the Necromantic Scroll, and buffs like the Summoning Potion. Similarly, Path of Exile (2013) allows players to summon minions—such as skeletons or spectres—using gems that grant independent AI behaviors for targeting and , enhanced by support gems like Life Support to boost their durability and effectiveness in action RPG encounters.

Theme park attractions

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a ride that immerses guests in the world of the Minions through and effects. In the attraction's storyline, visitors are recruited by to become Minions, leading to chaotic adventures in his laboratory as they navigate high-speed scenarios and mischievous antics. The ride first opened at on July 2, 2012, replacing the former . It debuted at on April 12, 2014, as part of the park's Super Silly Fun Land area. The attraction arrived at on April 21, 2017, within the newly created Minion Park. In 2025, it was added to as a key feature of the new Illumination's Minion Land, marking the ride's expansion to . Illumination's Minion Land at officially opened on February 14, 2025, following an announcement in July 2024 as part of a major expansion at . The themed area transforms a portion of the park into Gru's neighborhood and Super Silly Fun Land, featuring alongside exclusive attractions like the carousel, where guests ride Minion-themed vehicles to upbeat tunes, and the Silly Swirly spinning ride. Beyond rides, the land includes character meet-and-greets, Minion-themed dining such as Super Hungry food stand, and merchandise shops. Similar Minion-themed lands exist at other Universal parks, enhancing visitor experiences with interactive elements. At , the area—originally launched as Super Silly Fun Land in 2014—has evolved into Minion Land, offering , playgrounds, and Minion meet-and-greets. Universal Studios Florida's Illumination's Minion Land opened on August 11, 2023, expanding the existing Minion Mayhem with additions like Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast, a interactive blaster game where guests compete as supervillains, plus shops and the Minion Café. These lands typically include character encounters, themed retail, and dining, drawing families for immersive play. Minion attractions have significantly boosted park attendance and economic impact, particularly following major film releases. For instance, the debut of at contributed to an 11% attendance increase in 2014, the largest among parks that year. The 2023 opening of Minion Land at further amplified visitor numbers amid the franchise's popularity. In 2025, expansions like Singapore's Minion Land, coinciding with the success of (released July 2024), have continued to drive growth, with integrations of new characters such as Poppy Prescott in meet-and-greets across parks.

Science and technology

Typefaces

Minion Pro is a family designed by and released by Systems in 1990 as part of the Adobe Originals program. It draws inspiration from classical old-style typefaces of the late period, incorporating elegant proportions and letterforms reminiscent of designs by punchcutters such as Robert Granjon, particularly in its italic variants. The typeface was developed to balance aesthetic refinement with high readability for body text, making it suitable for extended reading in print and digital formats. The Minion Pro family includes multiple variants to support diverse typographic needs, featuring three primary weights—Regular, Semibold, and Bold—along with matching italics, and two widths: standard and condensed. It also offers optical sizes optimized for different applications, including Text (for body copy around 9–13 pt), Subhead (for headings around 14–24 pt), Caption (for small text like footnotes), and Display (for large-scale titles), ensuring consistent legibility and visual harmony across scales. These variants are widely used in book publishing and editorial design, serving as Adobe's default serif font in applications like InDesign for new documents and missing font substitutions. Technically, Minion Pro supports an extensive character set, including Latin Extended glyphs for Western European languages, as well as Greek and Cyrillic scripts added in 1992. The OpenType Pro version, released in 2000, incorporates advanced features such as discretionary ligatures, small caps, old-style figures, swashes, and tabular numerals, enhancing its versatility for professional typesetting. In 2018, Adobe introduced Minion 3, an expanded iteration that added Armenian support, an alternative Greek style, full International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) coverage, and additional Latin glyphs, while maintaining the core design integrity. Minion Pro has received praise for its exceptional readability in both print and screen environments, attributed to its moderate , open apertures, and subtle on serifs, which contribute to clear letter differentiation even at small sizes. Designers and typographers value its versatility for , newsletters, and , where it provides a timeless, unobtrusive presence without sacrificing elegance. As of 2025, it remains a standard choice in the library for commercial and personal projects, with no further major revisions announced since the 2018 update.

Computing

Minion is an open-source constraint solver designed for solving and satisfaction problems in . It employs a declarative input language based on matrix models, allowing users to specify problems as sets of decision variables and global constraints without writing imperative search code. Developed primarily by Ian P. Gent, Chris Jefferson, and Ian Miguel, with contributions from researchers at the and the , Minion emphasizes scalability and efficiency through optimized propagation algorithms. First released in 2006, has undergone active maintenance, with updates extending through 2025, including enhancements for parallel solving in versions improving upon 1.9. Implemented in C++, it supports a wide array of over 100 constraint types, such as all-different, , , and constraints, enabling generalized arc consistency for efficient pruning of search spaces. These global constraints are particularly effective for large-scale problems, reducing the need for custom heuristics. In applications, Minion is widely used in AI research for tasks like Sudoku solving, employee rostering, and scheduling, where it models problems as constraint satisfaction instances. Benchmarks from its initial development demonstrate significant speed advantages over competitors like Gecode, with up to 51-fold improvements on problems such as balanced incomplete block designs. Its black-box design facilitates integration into toolchains, such as the Savile Row modeling system from the University of York, enhancing its utility for automated problem solving.

Biotechnology

The MinION is a compact, portable nanopore sequencer developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, initially released through an early access program in 2014 and made commercially available in 2015. This USB-powered device revolutionized biotechnology by enabling real-time DNA and RNA sequencing in diverse environments, from laboratories to remote field settings, without the need for extensive infrastructure. Its nanopore-based approach detects individual nucleotides by monitoring disruptions in ionic current as molecules translocate through nanoscale protein pores embedded in a synthetic membrane, allowing for direct, label-free analysis of biological samples. Key technical advancements include support for ultra-long read lengths exceeding 4 megabases (Mb), which facilitate the assembly of complex genomes and the resolution of repetitive regions that challenge shorter-read technologies. Accuracy has progressively improved, reaching a modal raw read accuracy of 99% (Q20+) with the introduction of advanced chemistry kits like SQK-LSK114 and R10.4.1 flow cells, particularly refined in updates around 2023. These enhancements stem from iterative refinements in motor proteins that control molecule movement and algorithms that interpret signal data more precisely. In applications, the MinION has been instrumental in field , notably for rapid variant tracking during the 2020-2022 , where its portability enabled on-site sequencing in clinical and outbreak settings to monitor in . It also excels in , supporting the characterization of microbial communities from environmental samples like , , and nasopharyngeal swabs, providing insights into and detection without prior cultivation. Flow cell consumables, essential for each sequencing run, cost approximately $900 as of 2025, making it accessible for decentralized research. Recent developments include the MinION Mk1D model, which entered full release in early 2025 following early access in late 2024, featuring USB-C connectivity, enhanced thermal control, and compatibility with modern computing for more reliable field deployment. The device has demonstrated versatility beyond Earth, with MinION units used for microbial sequencing experiments on the International Space Station starting in 2019 to study DNA stability and astrobiological implications under microgravity. In 2025, Oxford Nanopore introduced AI-driven updates to basecalling software, accelerating real-time processing speeds and improving secondary analysis for applications in multiomics and diagnostics.

Other uses

In tabletop and role-playing games

In tabletop role-playing games, minions represent a core mechanic for depicting low-threat, disposable adversaries or summoned allies that enhance dynamics without prolonging play. These entities are typically fragile, often defeated in a single action, enabling game masters to deploy large groups for atmospheric tension or to support primary antagonists. The mechanic emphasizes narrative flow over granular simulation, prioritizing player engagement in high-stakes scenarios like sieges or uprisings. The concept gained prominence in the fourth edition of (released in ), where minions are defined as monsters with 1 hit point, immune to damage from missed attacks, and capable of inflicting fixed damage to maintain threat without dice rolls. This design allows four minions to equate to one standard creature of the same level, facilitating balanced hordes that simulate overwhelming odds while reducing combat duration. In (2012), a horror-themed powered by the Apocalypse World engine, minions function as the monster's underlings with streamlined stats, including motivations (e.g., assassin or scout), 0-1 armor, 2-4 harm attacks, and harm capacity of 5-10. They possess custom powers and weaknesses, such as loyalty to their master or specific vulnerabilities, and can perform moves like coordinated attacks or revealing secrets to build mystery tension. Game masters employ minions strategically to balance encounters, such as swarming players to protect bosses or generating urgency through disposable waves, with hordes often scaled to party level for tactical depth. In the fifth edition of (2014), official rules lack formal minions, but variant adaptations—drawing from 4e—assign 1 hit point to weak foes and ignore damage on failed saves, preserving the mechanic's utility for dynamic . The "minion" terminology and disposable enemy archetype proliferated in 2000s RPG design, particularly via Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition manuals, standardizing quick-resolution tools that influenced subsequent systems for efficient, cinematic gameplay.

Miscellaneous

In politics and society, the term "minions" is often used derogatorily to describe servile subordinates or aides, particularly in critiques of government officials who act as unquestioning followers of a leader. For instance, in a 2020 Jamaican political commentary, columnist Dionne Jackson Miller rebuked a politician for referring to supporters as "minions," highlighting the term's implication of lowly, obedient underlings in hierarchical power structures. This pejorative usage underscores a broader cultural view of "minion" as denoting someone unimportant and overly compliant, evolving from its original French roots meaning "favorite" or "darling" to a label for sycophantic loyalty. In , "minion" frequently appears as an for henchmen or subservient figures, predating modern media portrayals. In Terry Pratchett's series, characters like the dwarf Armpit and lizard men named Slime serve as dim-witted minions to the bargain-basement dark lord Evil Harry Dread, embodying the of incompetent, loyal underlings in fantasy narratives. This reflects a long-standing literary tradition where minions represent expendable aides to villains, emphasizing themes of blind obedience and comic futility in hierarchical evil schemes. As slang, "minion" in the 2020s commonly refers to a loyal, unquestioning follower, often with a negative connotation of excessive devotion or lack of independence. It is applied to overzealous supporters in social or political contexts, such as fans who defend a celebrity or leader without criticism, portraying them as servile aides in a cult-like dynamic. This usage aligns with the word's historical shift toward denoting sycophancy, as seen in everyday American English where it describes those who "blindly follow a leader or authority figure." Among obscure references, "minion" has denoted a bird species nickname in poetry, specifically the (Falco tinnunculus), celebrated in ' 1877 sonnet "The Windhover." The poem opens with "I caught this morning morning's minion," using "minion" to evoke the as a favored, buoyant creature of dawn, symbolizing divine energy and natural grace in its hovering flight. Historically, "minion" also named a type of light piece in 16th- and 17th-century , a smoothbore cannon with a bore diameter of about 3 inches (76 mm), used for naval and field operations due to its portability and ability to fire 3- to 5-pound shot. This military application, distinct from its servile connotations, highlights the term's versatility in denoting something small yet effective in service to larger forces.

References

  1. [1]
    Minions - Illumination Entertainment
    After accidentally killing off many of their masters—from T. rex to Dracula—the Minions find themselves exiled in Antarctica. But one Minion has a plan. Kevin ...
  2. [2]
    Universal Pictures' Minions Makes Animated Movie History
    Jul 14, 2015 · Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously ...
  3. [3]
    Despicable Me - Illumination Entertainment
    Surrounded by a small army of minions, Gru plans the biggest heist in the history of the world, to steal the moon. Gallery.
  4. [4]
    Minions: The Rise of Gru - Illumination Entertainment
    Set in the 1970s, Minions: The Rise of Gru explores the origins – and growing pains – of evil with young Gru and his Minions.
  5. [5]
    Here's How They Created Minionese, the Language of the Minions
    Jul 7, 2015 · Illumination Entertainment CEO and founder Chris Meledandri believes Coffin is, consciously or not, creating an actual language. “Pierre would ...
  6. [6]
    Studio - Illumination Entertainment
    September 2024 'Despicable Me 4' Demolishes 'Minions: The Rise of Gru's Record at Global Box Office · July 2024 'Minions 3' Will March Into Theaters in June 2027 ...
  7. [7]
    How the power of the Minions has propelled the 'Despicable Me ...
    Jul 3, 2024 · Against all odds, the beloved Minions of the "Despicable Me" franchise evolved from a childhood staple to a favorite of online moms to a Gen ...
  8. [8]
    Minionpalooza: the rise of Minion Culture - Polygon
    Jul 1, 2022 · Originally just a source of random comic relief in 2010's Despicable Me, the Minions are now franchise-headers of their own. You'll see them in ...
  9. [9]
    Minion - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
    Originating c. 1500 from Old French mignon, meaning "a favorite or darling," the word's meaning includes "dainty, pleasing," possibly linked to Celtic or ...
  10. [10]
    Adventures in Etymology – Minions – Radio Omniglot
    Jun 28, 2025 · It comes from Middle French mignon (lover, favourite, darling), from Old French mignon (dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind), from Frankish *minnju ( ...
  11. [11]
    https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/minion
  12. [12]
    Henchmen and minions - The Grammarphobia Blog
    Aug 7, 2020 · The word was adopted from the Middle French mignon (darling). At the time “minion” entered English, mignon was used in France as a noun for “a ...
  13. [13]
    The Minions of Henry VIII - The History of England
    Apr 28, 2017 · Thomas Parr (1478-1513) and William Parr (1480-1547). Both grew up in the Tudor court circle, and Thomas in particular was an early intimate of ...
  14. [14]
    minion, n.¹ & adj. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
    ### Summary of 'minion' (noun) Definitions from OED
  15. [15]
    Henry VIII: Entire Play - Shakespeare (MIT)
    The council-chamber. Cornets. Enter KING HENRY VIII, leaning on CARDINAL WOLSEY's shoulder, the Nobles, and LOVELL; CARDINAL WOLSEY places himself under KING ...Missing: minion | Show results with:minion
  16. [16]
    minion, n.¹ & adj. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English ...
    The earliest known use of the word minion is in the early 1500s. OED's earliest evidence for minion is from around 1500. minion is a borrowing from French.
  17. [17]
    Enemies Of The President's Promise - Chapter II - Happy Part - IIII
    Nov 15, 2014 · ... minions of the regime and name the rotten, corrupt, criminal UNEDUCATED and UNCULTURED family and cronies of Mahinda Rajapaksa – brothers ...
  18. [18]
    Minion - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
    Corporate presidents may have minions to do their dirty work such as firing employees who have made a mistake.
  19. [19]
    MINION | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
    a person who is not important and who has to do what another person of higher rank orders them to do: He sent one of his minions to do something about it. SMART ...Missing: business | Show results with:business
  20. [20]
    Cornwall village with quirky name where there's more than meets ...
    Apr 18, 2025 · Minions was first recorded in 1613 and is believed to derive from the Cornish word 'menyon' meaning stones. But the village gained a burst of ...
  21. [21]
    How Cornwall's towns and villages got their names
    Dec 9, 2021 · The name, Minions, was first recorded in 1613 and is believed to derive from the Cornish word 'menyon' meaning stones. This seems rather fitting ...
  22. [22]
    Interesting Information for Minions, Liskeard, PL14 5LN Postcode
    View information about Minions, Liskeard, PL145LN postcode, including population, age, housing, relationships, broadband, religion and employment.
  23. [23]
    2021 CENSUS FOR LINKINHORNE PARISH
    How the 1,570 Linkinhorne Parish residents live ... ... The 'household size' dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual households in Linkinhorne ...
  24. [24]
    https://en.protothema.gr/2025/04/10/minion-reopens-its-doors-with-a-6000-sq-m-zara-store-see-photos-and-video/
  25. [25]
    Phoenix United Mine, Minions, Linkinhorne, Cornwall, England, UK
    Mining first commenced in 1836 under the name of Cornwall Great United Mines, but was unsuccessful. Reopened about 1844 as Phoenix Mine; West Phoenix Mine ...
  26. [26]
    Phoenix United Mine on PhotoFile Cornwall - Images and Information
    The Phoenix United was once the largest productive mine in East Cornwall, producing over 16,000 tons of tin and 83,000 tons of copper during the years 1842 to ...
  27. [27]
    Cheesewring, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall | Photos & Visiting Information
    Traditional tales and folk legends cling to Cheesewring. One story says that the peculiar rock formations were created as a result of a contest between giants ...Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
  28. [28]
    Hurlers Stone Circles | English Heritage
    According to legend, they are the remains of men petrified for playing hurling on a Sunday. The site is managed by the Cornwall Heritage Trust. Read more about ...
  29. [29]
    Minion Map - Supermarket - Rhodes, South Aegean Islands, Greece
    Archangelos is a town on the island of Rhodes, Greece. It is approximately mid way between Lindos in the south and Faliraki to the north.Missing: store | Show results with:store
  30. [30]
    IADS Exclusive: Greece is going upmarket, but not only | Articles ...
    Minion became a European-class department store and introduced escalators, air-con and computers to Greece, in addition to allowing Greek customers to ...
  31. [31]
    Little Shops of Honour: The Athenian Kiosk - Accessible Athens
    ... history of the periptero is that of “Minion.” In 1934, Giannis Georgakas opened a kiosk on the corner of Stadiou and Patission Streets and called it Minion.
  32. [32]
    Last name MINION: origin and meaning - Geneanet
    Etymology. Minion : 1: Irish (Tyrone): variant of Moynihan.2: French: occupational name for a miner from a diminutive of minier 'miner' (see Minier).
  33. [33]
    Minion Surname Meaning & Minion Family History at Ancestry.com®
    Minion Surname Meaning. Irish (Tyrone): variant of Moynihan. French: occupational name for a miner from a diminutive of minier 'miner' (see Minier). This ...Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
  34. [34]
    Minion Name Meaning and Minion Family History at FamilySearch
    We found 381,591 records for the Minion last name​​ Explore historical collections, such as birth records, death certificates, immigration data, ...Missing: 2020 | Show results with:2020
  35. [35]
    Minion Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History - Forebears
    It is also the 228,576th most common forename worldwide It is held by 1,201 people. This surname is most frequent in The United States, where it is borne by 622 ...Missing: census | Show results with:census
  36. [36]
    Minion Surname/Last Name: Meaning, Origin & Family History
    Minion ranks #45026 in the US. 71.01% White in US. Irish (Tyrone): variant of Moynihan. French: occupational name for a miner, from a diminutive of minier.Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
  37. [37]
    Minion Surname Origin, Meaning & Family Tree | Findmypast.co.uk
    Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more. 110 Minions found in the 1921 Census. 821 Minions found in all ...
  38. [38]
    https://www.illumination.com/movie/minions/
  39. [39]
    Frank Minion Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor... - AllMusic
    Explore Frank Minion's discography including top tracks, albums, and reviews. Learn all about Frank Minion on AllMusic.<|separator|>
  40. [40]
    Frank Minion Albums - Blue Sounds
    14-day returnsFrank Minion was born January 3, 1929 in Baltimore. He attended that city's schools until the Army called him to its ranks. Just for kicks he began singing ...
  41. [41]
    Minion History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms - HouseOfNames
    The surname Minion was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island.
  42. [42]
    Two generations, one goal: The Minions and the Daddies
    Oct 19, 2020 · The top two pairs, Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo as well as Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, have been nicknamed 'The Minions' and 'The Daddies' ...
  43. [43]
    https://collider.com/david-cross-interview-megamind-the-increasingly-poor-decisions-of-todd-margret-kung-fu-panda-2/
  44. [44]
    What was the inspiration behind Despicable Me's Minions? - SYFY
    Jun 15, 2022 · In order to give life to the little evil enablers, Coffin and Renaud got together with character designer Eric Guillon. According to Vanity ...
  45. [45]
    Minions, explained - Vox
    Jul 10, 2015 · Minions are a species of tiny yellow henchmen; they look like unusually dressed Mike and Ike candies. They're earnestly driven by the desire to serve an evil ...Missing: male | Show results with:male
  46. [46]
    The Man Behind the Minions - The New York Times
    Jul 5, 2024 · The Man Behind the Minions. Pierre Coffin helped invent the yellow animated creatures and has supplied their voices for nearly 15 years. He's as ...Missing: named | Show results with:named
  47. [47]
    David Cross Interview MEGAMIND; THE INCREASINGLY POOR ...
    Nov 1, 2010 · Featuring the voices of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and David Cross, Megamind is the story of the villain that actually wins.
  48. [48]
    The Minion (1998) - IMDb
    Rating 3.9/10 (2,264) A 1500 year old body of one of the Knights Templar is discovered below New York's subway. Soon, a demonic minion and a modern Templar Knight are drawn to its ...Missing: entity credible
  49. [49]
    The Minion (1998) - Moria Reviews
    May 5, 2003 · The key is able to open the door that will unleash The Devil on Earth. They are being pursued by the Minion, a demonic entity that is capable of ...
  50. [50]
    In comics, why do only villains have hordes of minions while ... - Quora
    Aug 6, 2014 · Minions represent the unequal relationship that "villains" want. Whether it's ruling the world, running the corporation or any other similar ...Missing: excluding Despicable Megamind
  51. [51]
    Minion | League of Legends Wiki
    Minions are units that comprise the main force sent by the Nexus. They spawn periodically from their Nexus and advance along a lane towards the enemy Nexus.Melee minion · Caster minion · Siege minion · Super minion
  52. [52]
    Super minion - League of Legends Wiki
    Sep 21, 2025 · Super minions are highly durable and powerful minions that have melee attack range. They only spawn on a lane while that lane's enemy ...
  53. [53]
    Minion Masters - A Fast-paced Online Minion Battle Game
    Minion Masters is a fast-paced online battle game. Select your hero, build your deck and outwit your rivals using mighty minions and sparkling spells.
  54. [54]
    Minion Masters on Steam
    Rating 4.5 (24,498) · 14-day returnsAn addictive fast-paced hybrid of Card games & Tower-Defense. Play 1v1 - or bring a friend for 2v2 - and engage in epic online multiplayer battles.
  55. [55]
    Minion Rush | Despicable Me
    a free endless runner game packed with fun & silly action from Despicable Me movies!
  56. [56]
    Minion Rush Receives its Biggest Update Ever - Gameloft
    This update allows fans to experience the despicable world of Illumination's Minions in exciting new ways on both iOS and Android.Missing: official | Show results with:official
  57. [57]
    Minion-summoning weapons - Official Terraria Wiki
    Various boosts can raise the player's minion capacity ("slots"), allowing the same minion to be summoned multiple times, or several different minions to be ...
  58. [58]
    Witch - The Summoner Compendium - Forum - Path of Exile
    Jan 2, 2013 · Minions behave as separate entities from the player. They have their own crit chance, their own damage, their own health. While they benefit ...
  59. [59]
    Despicable Me Minion Mayhem | Universal Studios Florida™
    Join Gru, his daughters, and the mischievous Minions on an unpredictable ride: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. It's heartwarming family fun for everyone!
  60. [60]
    Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem - Universal Studios Wiki - Fandom
    Ride Information ; Opening date. Universal Studios Florida - July 2, 2012. Universal Studios Hollywood - April 12, 2014. Universal Studios Japan - April 21, 2017
  61. [61]
    Despicable Me Minion Mayhem - Universal Studios Hollywood
    Experience Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and join Gru, his daughters and the mischievous Minions on a heartwarming and thrilling ride.
  62. [62]
    Universal Studios Singapore Celebrates the Opening of ...
    Feb 14, 2025 · SINGAPORE (Feb. 14, 2025) – Illumination's Minion Land, the latest addition at Universal Studios Singapore, officially opened to guests ...
  63. [63]
    Universal Studios Singapore Reveals All-New Details About ...
    Jul 29, 2024 · Illumination's Minion Land will open at Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in 2025, transporting guests in Southeast ...
  64. [64]
    Minion Land - Themed Zone - Universal Studios Singapore
    Enter the wonderful world of Illumination's Minion Land. Go on immersive ... Visit Period: 14 February – 15 October 2025 1Redeemable at Minion ...Despicable Me Minion Mayhem · Silly Swirly · Buggie Boogie
  65. [65]
    Visit Minion Land at Universal Studios Hollywood
    Minion Land in. Universal Studios Hollywood. Park Hours. Open Today | 9 am-8 pm. Explore Tickets. Two minions posing. Meet Minions. Area of The Secret Life of ...
  66. [66]
    Illuminations's Highly Anticipated Minion Land, Featuring the All ...
    ORLANDO, Fla. (August 11, 2023) – Brace yourself, as Minion Land on Illumination Avenue officially opens today at Universal Orlando Resort.
  67. [67]
    Illumination's Minion Land | Universal Studios Florida
    Join Gru, his daughters and the mischievous Minions on an unforgettable trip through Gru's super villain laboratory. It's heartwarming and humorous family fun ...Illumination's Villain-Con... · Illumination Theater · Pop-A-Nana Popcorn and...
  68. [68]
    Minion Mayhem leads to attendance jump for Universal Studios ...
    Jun 3, 2015 · Universal Studios Hollywood's attendance jumped an estimated 11% last year, the biggest increase among all Southern California theme parks.
  69. [69]
    Minion Land Now Open at Universal Studios Florida with Brand ...
    Jul 28, 2023 · Minion Land officially opened at Universal Studios Florida on Aug. 11! We've absolutely loved getting to explore and experience this nefarious ...
  70. [70]
    Minion Land Now Open at Universal Studios Singapore - Klook Travel
    Feb 26, 2025 · Minion Land is a brand-new zone that just opened in Universal Studios Singapore that opened on 14 February 2025.Illumination's Minion Land... · Enjoy Delicious Minion Land...
  71. [71]
    Minion | Adobe Fonts
    Minion Pro is an Adobe Original typeface designed by Robert Slimbach. The first version of Minion was released in 1990. Cyrillic additions were released in ...
  72. [72]
    History - Minion 3
    Minion grew out of the confluence of Robert Slimbach's practice of calligraphy with a broad-edged pen and his researches into the history of Renaissance ...Missing: variants | Show results with:variants
  73. [73]
    Minion 3 - Adobe Fonts
    Minion 3 is available in four weights and four optical sizes (Display, Caption, Subhead, and text), each with corresponding italics. Read more about Minion 3 ...
  74. [74]
    Changing default fonts in replace dialog and for missing fonts
    Nov 27, 2019 · Minion Pro and Myriad Pro are Adobe's default fonts for serif or sanserif fonts that are either missing or unavailable. As such, they have a ...
  75. [75]
    Adobe released Minion 3 - Typography Weekly #76
    Apr 18, 2018 · Minion 3 introduces a new script, Armenian, as well as full IPA coverage. Other enhancements include an additional style of Greek with a ...
  76. [76]
    [PDF] Minion: A Fast, Scalable, Constraint Solver - CS web sites
    Abstract. We present Minion, a new constraint solver. Em- pirical results on standard benchmarks show orders of magni-.Missing: York | Show results with:York
  77. [77]
    Welcome to Minion's documentation! — Minion 2.0 documentation
    Contents: Introduction to Minion · Installing Minion · How to use Minion · Variable Types · Constraints · Input Format · Command Line Options ...Missing: York | Show results with:York<|control11|><|separator|>
  78. [78]
    Savile Row constraint modelling assistant
    Sep 13, 2025 · Minion has been updated to a version that slightly improves on 1.9. Chuffed has been updated to 0.12.1. Ferret has been updated to 1.0.9. For ...
  79. [79]
    Minion: A fast scalable constraint solver - Heather Cafe
    Minion is a constraint solver, originally released in 2006, along with the paper ``Minion: A fast scalable constraint solver''.
  80. [80]
    Challenge 2025 Results - MiniZinc
    Select a list of solvers and benchmarks and click on “Compute Results” to score the solvers against each other on the selected benchmarks. The entrants for ...
  81. [81]
    [PDF] An Automated Constraint Modelling and Solving Toolchain
    The second step consists of using a constraint solver to find solutions to the model: assignments of values to decision variables satisfy- ing all constraints.
  82. [82]
    Company history - Oxford Nanopore Technologies
    The first product, MinION, was introduced into early access in 2014 and made commercially available in 2015. The scaled-up GridION was commercially launched in ...The concept · The early years · Introducing the technology · Building a community
  83. [83]
    MinION portable nanopore sequencing device
    Sequence anywhere, palm-sized device for use in the lab or field. From $990 per flow cell. Cost-effective access to in-house sequencing for every lab and ...MinION Mk1D · MinION 10 years · View product
  84. [84]
    How nanopore sequencing works | Oxford Nanopore Technologies
    Nanopore sequencing is the only sequencing technology to enable real-time analysis in fully scalable formats. From the pocket-sized MinION to the high- ...
  85. [85]
    Short, long, or ultra-long: which read length is right for you?
    Mar 18, 2025 · Oxford Nanopore technology can produce reads of any length, from short to ultra long (50 bp to >4 Mb).
  86. [86]
    Products scheduled to be discontinued
    Our latest Kit V14 and R10.4.1 flow cell combination enables users to achieve high output and accuracy of Q20+ (≥99%) at all read lengths; therefore we are ...
  87. [87]
    The newest Oxford Nanopore R10.4.1 full-length 16S rRNA ... - NIH
    Oct 6, 2023 · 4.1 flowcell can generate whole genome sequencing data with a model read accuracy of ~99% using Q20+ chemistry and the SQK-LSK114 kit. The ...
  88. [88]
    MinION Mk1C now in-field, for COVID-19 and beyond
    May 19, 2020 · Beyond COVID-19​​ MinION Mk1C is designed to enable rapid DNA/RNA sequencing in any environment and is increasingly being used by scientists ...
  89. [89]
    Amplicon based MinION sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and ...
    Amplicon based MinION sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and metagenomic characterisation of nasopharyngeal swabs from patients with COVID-19. Shona C Moore, Rebekah ...
  90. [90]
    MinION Mk1D - Nanopore store
    The MinION Mk1D comes with one year of standard support and one year of warranty as standard. 3Released. Products from Oxford Nanopore Technologies that have ...
  91. [91]
    one small step for a MinION, one giant leap for spaceflight research
    Apr 1, 2019 · Nanopore sequencing in space: one small step for a MinION, one giant leap for spaceflight research | Welcome to Oxford Nanopore technologies.
  92. [92]
    London Calling 2025 Technology Update: Oxford Nanopore unveils ...
    May 20, 2025 · Oxford Nanopore's Machine Learning teams have expanded their focus beyond basecalling, investing deeply in secondary analysis to onboard these ...London Calling 2025... · Current Device Portfolio And... · Rna Analysis For Biopharma...
  93. [93]
    Is large-scale battle feasible with D&D 4e's minion rules?
    Sep 20, 2011 · 1. Non-minion creatures & characters all roll normal initiative. 2. Minions roll one initiative roll and all go at the same time. 3. During ...What options are there in 5E that are similar to Minions?dnd 4e - What's the maximum number of minions for an encounter?More results from rpg.stackexchange.comMissing: Dungeons Dragons 4th edition
  94. [94]
    Minions in D&D 4th Edition: Hit or Miss? - Stargazer's World
    Apr 16, 2009 · If an attack deals their death threshold or more, they die, if it deals less, but at least one hit point they become bloodied. If a bloodied ...
  95. [95]
    https://www.enworld.org/threads/minions-with-1hp-can-anyone-justify-this.236066/
  96. [96]
    [PDF] Monster-of-the-Week-Revised-Keeper-Reference-Sheets.pdf
    Create your monsters, minions, by- standers and locations. 4. Countdown. What would happen if the hunters never came here? Break it into six key events: 1 ...
  97. [97]
    Minions - D&D 5e - Tribality.com
    Oct 3, 2014 · First, a minion has 1 HP. Next reduce the highest ability score and make it closer to 10, and take the remainder and reduce them by 1.
  98. [98]
    D&D Ideas — Minions for 5E D&D - Nerdarchy
    Aug 16, 2020 · To add minions to your game all you need do is drop a monster's hit points to 1. Second, anytime a minion would take damage from a failed saving ...
  99. [99]
    Minions with 1hp - Can anyone justify this?
    Jul 16, 2008 · Ultimately, a Minion is a useful tool in the DM's ToolBox to help them represent certain cinematic scenes or battles that you don't want to drag ...
  100. [100]
    Dionne Jackson Miller | We are not minions, Daniel | Commentary
    Oct 27, 2020 · Miller uses her column to berate Mr Thwaites for name calling (i.e., minions) and ends said column by calling Mr. Thwaites cockroach. So ...
  101. [101]
    What is the meaning of "minions "? - Question about English (US)
    Sep 6, 2023 · 'Minions' is an expression used in American English that generally means 'loyal followers.' This expression is primarily used to describe ...<|separator|>
  102. [102]
    Word of the Day: Minion | Merriam-Webster
    Oct 2, 2013 · Over time, however, the word evolved a more derogatory sense referring to a person who is servile and unimportant. Test Your Vocabulary with M-W ...
  103. [103]
    The Windhover | The Poetry Foundation
    I caught this morning morning's minion minion favorite, darling; also, an underling or servant , king- dom of daylight's dauphin dauphin prince; a French…
  104. [104]
    [PDF] Artillery Through the Ages. A Short Illustrated History of Cannon ...
    During the early 1700's cannon were used to protect an army's deploy- ment and to prepare for the advance of the troops by firing upon enemy formations. There ...<|separator|>